Town have confirmed the departures of James Norwood, Tom Carroll, Myles Kenlock and Tomas Holy.

The quartet were among those who are out of contract this summer and their exits come as little surprise.

TWTD revealed on Friday that Norwood and Carroll had been released following meetings with manager Kieran McKenna the previous day, while Kenlock has been on loan at Colchester and Holy with Port Vale since January.

Norwood, who joined Town on a free transfer from Tranmere in the summer of 2019, made 27 appearances this season, scoring seven times having spent a spell training with the U23s during Paul Cook’s time as boss.

In total, the 31-year-old scored 28 goals in 57 starts and 29 appearances from the bench.

The club had an option to keep the striker, whose time with Town was punctuated by injuries and off-field controversy, for a further season.

A number of League One clubs are understood to have been monitoring the 31-year-old’s situation among them Wigan Athletic and Oxford United. Portsmouth and Preston have also been linked.

Midfielder Carroll, 29, signed on a free transfer last summer having left QPR and has had an injury-hit campaign, making only 11 starts and six sub appearances for the Blues.

Left-back Kenlock, 25, joined the Town academy in 2014 and went on to make 94 first team starts and nine sub appearances without scoring a competitive goal. Having impressed for the U's, a return to North Essex on a permanent basis over the summer isn't out of the question.

Keeper Holy, 30, joined the Blues on a free transfer from Gillingham in the summer of 2019. The 6ft 9in tall glovesman made 65 appearances for Town, only three this season, all in cups. He kept 28 clean sheets during his time with the Blues.

Town have also confirmed that loanees Bersant Celina, Dominic Thompson, Macauley Bonne and Tyreeq Bakinson have returned to their parent clubs, Dijon, Brentford, QPR and Bristol City respectively, at the end of their spells.

As revealed by TWTD last month, Sone Aluko, who was due to be out of contract this summer, has made enough appearances to trigger the additional year on his contract, while it's known that striker Kayden Jackson is in talks regarding a new deal with his current terms ending in the summer.

Town are set to make further announcements with discussions continuing with some members of the squad.

Bailey Clements, 21, and 22-year-old Brett McGavin, also out of contract this summer, are currently on loan at Stevenage and King's Lynn, whose seasons are still ongoing.

Young forward Tawanda Chirewa, 18, is among the U23s players out of contract this summer but with the club having an option for a further season and the Blues appearing certain to have offered him new terms.

As reported last month, Town have taken the one-year option on striker Ben Morris’s deal, while Tyreece Simpson has told the club he wants to depart with his deal ending this summer but with the club having a year's option.

Photo: Matchday Images

Linkboy13 added 08:36 - May 6 Lots of options of who should go and who we should keep. We cannot afford to have another major rebuilding season. Apart from the final third of the pitch the team looks pretty good. A lot of the games this season we have dominated without that killer instinct up top. Both Celina and Bakinson have done enough for me to be given another chance even if they are squad players . We could sign two more midfield players but we will still need strength in depth. We need a quality target man who is a threat in the air we rarely look like scoring headed goals from set pieces. We just need to add more quality to the good players we already have.

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d77sgw added 08:43 - May 6 @Texastom - play at a higher level, that's how. Even my Tranmere mates told me when we signed him that he needed 3 good chances to score each goal - he was never clinical, terrible on 1-1s, and you simply don't get as many chances at this level. I loved his passion, and he was a great option to come off the bench and stir things up a bit if necessary - but for the wages he was on we need something that is going to take us to the next level. And sadly Nors was not it

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dirtydingusmagee added 09:04 - May 6 just usual if ,buts ,when and where's now , we need to make changes if we are to get out of this league, several players just havnt produced the goods. I trust KMK and Ashton to do some good business through summer, and i also think they wont sit around waiting till the deadline to do it, which has often been the case .
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BurleysGloryDays added 10:50 - May 6 Bonne was very comfortably the best striker at the club and offered so much even when not scoring, best hold up play since Murph. Quality player and hope to see him again, if partnered with some real talent could be v potent and a crucial plan B player. Nors, very passionate but technically very poor. He'll do well elsewhere at this level - but won't help a club push on like we need to. Thompson did improve on Penney who was making so many mistakes. But didn't push on how we needed him to. Bakinson - this will be a headache for McKenna. If we lose Morsy and Evans to injury and suspension you need a Bakinson-minimum level player. I wouldn't be surprised if he's kept and worked on. Hopefully a trimmed squad enables some quality and hopefully McKenna can work magic and bring in emerging talent for the season in the shape of loans. We probably still can't afford much more in terms of perms at the level of quality needed, having already achieved coups last season (Walton, Morsy, Chappers for example) Tough challenge for McKenna, needs all his skill and knowledge, and a nice slice of fortune.

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EssexTractor added 12:07 - May 6 McKenna has been restricted to use inherited players ..he could see from training sessions, games played that however good our possession and passing was, the major defects were in two areas,.. finishing by a “ quality”:front man..and creating the real opportunity from the midfield . However good in possession Morsy is, he does not unlock tight defences…he needs that creator beside him..Evans may be fit but is he one to do that ? Although a dead game against Charlton young Hunphries laid on a super pass from Norwoods final goal. But he may lack the physical abilities to be a first choice next season. I saw Bonne for first time in pre season friendly , and frankly thought he was hopeless , then season starts and his finishing was quite amazing and from a hometown boy, what could be better…but that great purple patch faded and though given many chances post November truthfully he never looked liked scoring. Probably McKennas patience with him has now faded away. Pigott what a shame , from a fantastic goal scorer with Wimbledon he became the modern day Sam Parkin….can that previous form be recalled..there has to be serious doubts. Norwood..the marmite man …and apparently a favourite with other players , but although having that physical prescience, that is often misplaced , inviting yellow cards and confrontations with officials . HIS off the field misdemeanours should not be taken into account, just his footballing abilities..and looking ahead, not good enough to be the striker to be the “ 20 goal a season man”. Mckenna seems to like Jackson , who had that nice spell before injury..he likes his pace. Can McKenna improve his overall play , and his concentration to be “ that man”.Jackson of course to succeed would need that clever midfielder to provide chances that his style would require. Obviously it is not just ITFC who will be seeking new players, but. new players for LEAGUE ONE. Ashton has contacts and has showed himself to be a persuader last summer, now can he and McKenna be the ones to beat all other contenders in finding those players to really , really be a potential top two team in 22/23. The fans , growing in numbers are there, around the ground improvements are underway, so we now await with bated breath.

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blues1 added 12:15 - May 6 Texastom. In case u didn't know, Norwood was playing with a injury further vastcamount of games in his 1st season, and after hi op in his 2nd season pocked up several muscle injuries, as tends to happen after a long spell out. And thats why he didn't score as many here. Even then, his record shows he scored every 180 minutes he played( in effect a goal every 2 games). Hardly a shabby record.

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blues1 added 12:42 - May 6 TimmyH. It's impossible to judge piggott bcse he simply hasn't been given the game time to show what he could do. After scoring 3 in his 1st 5 games he was dropped and didn't play for months. Then only got 10 -15 mins here and there, and an odd start. Hladky was unfortunate that he played at a time when Cook constantly changed the defence in front of him, so was never able to get the confidence from having an understanding with them. The fact he kept 26 clean sheets for salford shows he's a decent keeper. As for Thompson, the issue with him, is he's an out and out left back who was being asked to play as a wing back. That was obvious as he tended to only go so far forwards, rather than totally commit to running forwards. Ironically probably his best game from that point of view was against Wigan , when he did get forwards more and got an assist as well. Probably his best game for us. Bonne did what he does at every club he plays for. Started well, then faded away. Personally, the only loanee I'd sign, would be Bakinson. Despite what some on here are saying, he's done well for us. Yes, he puts the odd pass astray(who doesnt), but he always wants the ball played to him again. Never shies away from receiving the ball. And does a lot of the dirty, tho often unseen work which so many of our fans on here seem to fail to see. (Just as skuse used to do). Work which allows morsy to get further forwards.

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TimmyH added 18:24 - May 6 Blues1 - Piggot scored 3 in his first 5 games (starts)...1 of those was from the spot and another in that sill EFL trophy that nobody was too bothered about including the players! Since then he had enough starts and subs to score another goal but preferred to hit the woodwork - compare that with Norwood whom came back from injury and other problems and didn't take long to score and always looked more of a threat than Piggot, I'd sell him in my opinion and Bakinson is very much a 'marmite' player - has the physical presence but lacks quality on the ball though he did score a good un' against Charlton (much to my surprise). Thompson played in the Premiership believe it or not, enough said!

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ldnj added 18:43 - May 6 My view is based more on match reports, but to me it seems Kenlock often did a good job then was completely dropped from the squad. To me it seems something else happened that we'll never know. He also seems to have done well this season, so I hope he enjoys future success.
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gosblue added 19:04 - May 6 Six forwards needed. Two main men, two back-up/bench and two youngsters. Jackson, Humphreys and Morris may fit into three of those slots, so three more required imo. Morsey and Bakinson/Evans shouldn't be in the same starting XI so a minimum of two creative midfielders required. Thompson has the makings of a decent LWB but he needs support (which he rarely had) and he needs to learn to whip crosses in early ala Burns and KVY. I was always taught to put the ball into good areas and that it wasn't my job to worry about the forwards being clever enough or good enough to get into those areas to finish it off. Also, let's not forget, there will be no incomings until after 1st June, so we need to be patient.

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Linkboy13 added 19:22 - May 6 Pigott has to be one of the poorest signings in the fifty odd years ive supported the Town. People on here say he hasn't been given a chance. He just doesn't look interested to me looking at his body language. He's slow lacks aggression and wins little in the air for a man who's six feet tall . You just don't get given a run of games at professional level anyway you have to earn it and he's obviously not impressed McKenna. On the other hand Kayden Jackson has worked hard in training and has impressed McKenna and looked very lively in games under McKenna.

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whymarkwhynot added 20:28 - May 6 We won't be seeing Celina anymore, just the memories of a stunning goal.
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blues1 added 23:12 - May 6 Timmyh. Normally agree with a lot you say, but he made 4 starts from Dec till the end of the season. So never match fit. And as I said 10 -15ins here and there at the end of games isn't enough for any player to make an impression. Thus, his confidence suffered (something mckenna commented on). Do think however that maybe he doesn't necessarily for in with our style of play. But it's unlikely he'll be leaving as he loves it here, and has just bought a farm in the area. So we have to hope he can find his form next season. But will need more game time if he's to do so.

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Nazemariner added 11:23 - May 7 The departures will free up some wages to used elsewhere. Would like to see an effort made to sign both Celina and Bakinson.
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Linkboy13 added 11:25 - May 7 What ever way you dress it up blues one Pigott has been poor and has failed to impress McKenna ,Cook and to a lesser extent Mcgreal.
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blueboy1981 added 19:25 - May 8 I hope I'm wrong, but many of you talk about ‘players coming in' - I suspect you'll see very much ‘as we are' in July /Aug' with little movement of incoming players, if any… !!! I wouldn't build your hopes up too much - you may well be disappointed … !!!
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pg888 added 09:52 - May 9 I hope Kenlock finds a better club than Col U. He was never outstanding for us but for his flaws surely would have performed better than Thompson and Penney this season. Another Paul Cook moment the truth of which will never be known no doubt.
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